Five Ounces of Pain » Joe LeBeauhttp://fiveouncesofpain.com
Your Destination for Insider MMA News and OpinionTue, 03 Mar 2015 23:00:00 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.0.1Breaking It Down: UFC 147http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/06/23/breaking-it-down-ufc-147/
http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/06/23/breaking-it-down-ufc-147/#commentsSat, 23 Jun 2012 20:15:55 +0000http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=61445Don’t call it a comeback! After a lull in the action, I am back with a breakdown for tonight’s UFC 147 card. Not to say there hasn’t been plenty of MMA action to hold us over this weekend, including Roger Huerta having his head soccer-kicked off in Malaysia, but alas, work-related responsibilities have left me […]

Don’t call it a comeback! After a lull in the action, I am back with a breakdown for tonight’s UFC 147 card. Not to say there hasn’t been plenty of MMA action to hold us over this weekend, including Roger Huerta having his head soccer-kicked off in Malaysia, but alas, work-related responsibilities have left me little time to enlighten you with my nonsense. Anyway, UFC 147 is tonight and while most of you won’t likely be willing to shell out $50+ for the pay-per-view portion of the card, you have to remember that this card isn’t for the casual MMA fan – it’s for the diehards and the Brazilians. Plus you got a free show last night so there’s that as well.

Let’s get down to business, shall we?

Milton Vieira (13-7-1) vs. Felipe Arantes (14-4-0)

Arantes may not have had so much success as of late, but the Strikeforce import brings a lot more to the table than people suspect. In Vieira, he faces a tough opponent, who is likely facing some ring rust. I expect this fight proves why it belongs on Facebook, and gets this evening’s fights off to a slow and tedious start.

Winner – Felipe Arantes defeats Milton Vieira via Unanimous Decision

Marcos Vinicius Borges Pancini (19-3-1) vs. Wagner Campos (11-3-0)

Campos failed to find success on the show, and against such a tough opponent as Pancini I think that failure continues tonight. Look for a striking clinic.

Both men come into this bout technically undefeated, but one of them as to drop that title tonight. “Wolverine” has a serious striking edge, while his for has the grappling prowess in this one. I expect this to be one of the better fights on the card, and Viana stops his foe with punches and knees.

“Massaranduba” is a really big dude with a great future at lightweight. Heleno is a big dude with a great future at welterweight. Tonight they meet at middleweight, and oddly enough, the former will have the size advantage. He’ll also have the technical advantage, and it’ll show.

Winner – Francisco Drinaldo defeats Delson Heleno via TKO Round 1

Anistavio Medeiros de Figueiredo (15-7-0) vs. Rodrigo Damm (9-5-0)

Damnit Rodrigo, you were supposed to win this show. Why did you have to go and get injured? Despite his questionable record, he’s faced a lot of serious competition. I’m not sold on “Gasparzinho” – great prankster, not such a great fighter. Look for Damm to exploit the holes in his game and take home a fairly easy victory.

This will likely be the fight of the night. Both of these men have been nothing but impressive in their last few bouts, and I expect this bout to be a war. Look for the more solid fighter, Alcantara, to pull away as the bout goes on, and likely win a really fun decision.

Winner – Yuri Alcantara defeats Hacran Dias via Split Decision

Rony Mariano Bezerra (10-3-0) vs Godofredo de Oliveira (8-0-0)

If you’ve watched the show, you likely know what’s going to happen here. The first ever TUF Brazil winner will be crowned, as Rony “Jason” will decimate his undefeated opponent. This is a terrible style match-up for Godofredo, who essentially has no striking skills whatsoever. He’ll have to get Rony down, and he won’t be able to.

In a battle between two men that would handily lose to Daniel Sarafian, we’ll crown the second TUF Brazil champion. Moraes is solid, and a fitting replacement for the injured finalist, but Mutante is going to absolutely run through him. The beginning of this bout will be close, but that’s about it. Moraes is getting starched.

I like Russow and damn has he impressed me with his last few victories. He hits hard, he has so much heart, and he’s smart in that cage. I just feel as if it all comes to an end tonight. Werdum is just such a good grappler, and his striking is always getting better. This fight will be ridiculous, and each man will have his moment, but Werdum is going to tap that ass, so to speak.

The first fight between these two was brilliant. Fifteen solid minutes of action, ending with their memorable third round exchange on the cage, I weep with nostalgia at how much I enjoyed that bout. I likely will not enjoy this one. Both men have aged horrible, more so Wanderlei, and neither man will ever be close to title contention ever again. I expect Franklin to use his evasiveness and sneaky striking to outpoint Wandy, and Brazil will shed tears for their fallen hero. Better than getting brain damage from Vitor Belfort though, right?

Winner – Rich Franklin defeats Wanderlei Silva via Unanimous Decision

So that’s it. A solid night of fights that most people won’t bother watching. I will, and you should to. It all goes down tonight with the prelims beginning around 7:00 PM EST on Facebook, 8:00 PM EST on FX, and 10:00 PM EST on PPV.

Enjoy the fights and make sure to check back here later for our live coverage of the show!

]]>http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/06/23/breaking-it-down-ufc-147/feed/2Breaking It Down: UFC 146 (Main Card)http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/05/26/breaking-it-down-ufc-146-main-card/
http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/05/26/breaking-it-down-ufc-146-main-card/#commentsSat, 26 May 2012 17:00:00 +0000http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=60172Okay, so, the UFC 146 main card is huge – literally. I wonder if the UFC even bothered taking out their usual allotted three-hour slot on PPV, because they’re not going to need it because the violence will be abundant. Let’s get to it, shall we? Lavar Johnson (17-5) vs. Stefan Struve (23-5) Something tells […]

Okay, so, the UFC 146 main card is huge – literally. I wonder if the UFC even bothered taking out their usual allotted three-hour slot on PPV, because they’re not going to need it because the violence will be abundant. Let’s get to it, shall we?

Something tells me there is no real winner in a bout with Struve. Sure, the kid is young, always improving, etc., but does anyone ever say “Wow! He beat Stefan Struve!” or “Whoa, Struve looked awesome”..? No. The only guaranteed thing is entertainment. Struve can easily win this by submission, but, he has ZERO wrestling skills and Johnson is a huge dude. As such, “The Rock” wins this with fists.

Winner – Lavar Johnson defeats Stefan Struve via Knockout Round 1

Stipe Miocic (8-0) vs. Shane del Rosario (11-0)

In a bout that pits two awesome undefeated heavyweight prospects, the latest Strikeforce import, Del Rosario returns after 15 long months away from the cage. He faces a really tough challenge in Miocic, and unfortunately for Shane ring-rust is a bitch. As such, I think Miocic rocks him and beats him down for fifteen straight minutes.

What a terrible match up for Herman in terms of style! Nelson gets a much needed win here, using his beard to throw off the near hairless Herman, and walking through Herman’s three minutes of offense, to take a very, very ugly Unanimous Decision.

Velasquez is not the kind of guy you want to make your UFC debut against. “Bigfoot” has a hell of a jaw, and he can handle himself against some of the best fighters in the division, without a doubt (See: Fedor Emelianenko), but I just see things going all sorts of wrong for him in this bout. Cain is hungry, healthy, and goddamn does he look angry. I fully expect a violent finish here.

Mir hates being punched in the face. Good for him he doesn’t have to worry about that against Juni.. oh, damn. Well, it was a good run, Frank. Junior is going to make poor Mir look like he did after he fought Shane Carwin, that is to say, face down counting sheep in the center of the cage. However, I don’t see Mir gutting his way through the adversity like Carwin did. Can Frank pull off some miracle and submit JDS? Yes. Will he? Hell no.

Winner – Junior dos Santos defeats Frank Mir via Knockout Round 1

The main card goes down at the usual 10:00 PM EST on PPV. If you like violence and bad tattoos, then seriously, don’t miss this card. Enjoy the fights!

]]>http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/05/26/breaking-it-down-ufc-146-main-card/feed/7Breaking It Down: UFC 146 (Prelims)http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/05/26/breaking-it-down-ufc-146-prelims/
http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/05/26/breaking-it-down-ufc-146-prelims/#commentsSat, 26 May 2012 12:00:15 +0000http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=60164While the heavyweights are the focus of the MMA world this evening, the preliminary card of UFC 146 boasts one of the most talent-rich and technically awesome series of bouts in quite awhile. Featuring veterans who are undoubtedly fighting for their jobs, or angry guys that hate Barack Obama and want to run for President, […]

While the heavyweights are the focus of the MMA world this evening, the preliminary card of UFC 146 boasts one of the most talent-rich and technically awesome series of bouts in quite awhile. Featuring veterans who are undoubtedly fighting for their jobs, or angry guys that hate Barack Obama and want to run for President, this card has it all. Let’s get down to business, shall we?

Mike Brown (25-8) vs. Daniel Pineda (17-7)

Brown is an old man in MMA terms. The young lion Pineda will be out for his third straight win inside the Octagon, and for both men a win could mean big things in terms of placement in the division. I expect Brown to take Pineda to the mat, and from there Pineda will be in all kinds of trouble.

Winner – Mike Brown defeats Daniel Pineda via Submission Round 1

Paul Sass (12-0) vs. Jacob Volkmann (14-2)

Sass has had one of the best runs in British MMA history. Being undefeated and having eleven submission wins is no easy feat. He faces the most dangerous man in America though – the enemy of Obama i.e. Volkmann. Sass has some fancy tricks, but Volkmann has no time for, or interest in, such folly.

Winner – Jacob Volkmann defeats Paul Sass via Unanimous Decision

Glover Teixeira (17-2) vs. Kyle Kingsbury (11-3)

Glover walks through Kingsbury. It’s going to be violent, ugly, and not competitive.

Two men who desperately need a win are almost destined to put on a damn good show, and I suspect that’s what we’ll see here. Look for Hardy to shock everyone with a slightly more well-rounded game, and while he will be technically outclassed, he will either knockout or steal a decision over Ludwig.

With excuses aside, Miller looked absolutely horrid against Michael Bisping. He faces a considerably easier challenge in Dollaway who has him beat in the wrestling department but doesn’t offer too much that I can see beyond that. I expect Dollaway to take him down, get careless, Triangled, and tapped.

Winner – Jason Miller defeats C.B. Dollaway via Submission Round 2

Jamie Varner (19-6-1) vs. Edson Barboza (10-0)

Welcome back Varner! Enjoy your stay since it won’t be a long one. Coming in as a late replacement for Evan Dunham, that poor fella has to fight Barboza, an unenviable task. I fully expect Barboza to kick Varner’s legs off en route to a unanimous decision win.

Winner – Edson Barboza defeats Jamie Varner via Unanimous Decision

Diego Brandao (14-7) vs. Darren Elkins (13-2)

In the final and perhaps most violent preliminary bout, Brandao is going to kill Elkins. Elkins has some solid wrestling, and yeah, I don’t doubt that he could but Brandao on his back, but even then what can he do from there other than get submitted? Good luck surviving an absolute firestorm of fists to get Brandao on his back. I don’t see it happening.

Winner – Diego Brandao defeats Darren Elkins via Knockout Round 1

Check out the preliminary bouts starting at approximately 6:30 PM EST on the UFC’s Facebook page with the FX card starting at 8:00 PM EST. Also, don’t forget to check back later today for my look at the nearly 2500-pound main card.

]]>http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/05/26/breaking-it-down-ufc-146-prelims/feed/2Breaking It Down: Bellator 70http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/05/25/breaking-it-down-bellator-70/
http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/05/25/breaking-it-down-bellator-70/#commentsFri, 25 May 2012 17:30:50 +0000http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=60125After a fun run the end of Bellator‘s sixth season has arrived. With merely nine more fights to go before a short break and the start of a truncated Summer Series, it’s been a long, hard road to get to where we are now. Even harder for the fighters, though, eh? With many, many exciting […]

After a fun run the end of Bellator‘s sixth season has arrived. With merely nine more fights to go before a short break and the start of a truncated Summer Series, it’s been a long, hard road to get to where we are now. Even harder for the fighters, though, eh? With many, many exciting fights, a title-change, some hilarious moments, and some really terrible and boring decisions behind us, it’s time to look forward to tonight.

The card features a tournament final and a title-fight, so let’s roll!

A long time veteran of the sport, Clementi looks to be a headache for yet another upcoming fighter in Campos. Campos, a relative newcomer, has some serious skills, and I would not be shocked to see him start submitting folks in the Bellator cage. Clementi has a hell of a lot of advantages in this bout, but I doubt his ability to hang with Campos after the first 5 minutes, and I expect the Texan to take it to the veteran.

Winner – Francisco Derek Campos defeats Rich Clementi via TKO Round 3

Luis Alberto Nogueira (13-2) vs. Hiroshi Nakamura (15-5-4)

This fight isn’t going to be pretty. The Japanese fighter, Nakamura, took Rodrigo Lima out of contention, and with his grappling chops he could do the same to anyone. Nogueira, however, isn’t going to lay down for anybody. He has fantastic takedown defense, is young, quick, and has the stamina to go 25 minutes, let alone 15. He takes a long, boring, and likely close decision.

Weedman is not someone that should be overlooked. With his experience, his skills, and his heart, he could very well play the spoiler and win this tournament. Having said that, it just seems like it’s Hawn’s time to shine. Hawn has some serious power, and I just don’t see him being beaten. He takes the lightweight tournament in exciting fashion.

I’m surprised this bout made the main card, especially with Cavalcante/Vallie-Flagg out there for the picking. However, it should be a damn good fight, as Burrell is a tough and very solid prospect, while Spang brings a lot to the cage as well. Spang will likely pressure Burrell early, but in the end Nah-Shon is getting a TKO win and a boost in that hilariously structured Strikeforce welterweight division.

A rematch from an early Strikeforce bout features former champ “Feijao” taking on the hard hitting, hard headed Kyle. While both men are more than capable of stopping an opponent violently, as Kyle did to “Feijao” in their first meeting, Feijao is likely the better striker. Not to take anything away from Kyle, but Cavalcante looked terrible in that bout, and since then, he has taken training more seriously, and if he’s fully prepared, he’ll exact his revenge.

In the rubber match, “El Nino” and “The Punk” finally determine once and for all who is the better fighter. While both have improved since their previous meetings, it comes down to a question of just who is the better fight. Expect Melendez to take control early, and maintain that control for a full 25 minutes. Thomson is a fantastic fighter, and likely UFC bound in the future, but he won’t have much to offer Gil.

There are so many factors in this bout that could play out tonight. Will the explosiveness and speed of Cormier lead him to victory? Will the experience of Barnett give him the advantage? Who will have the better gameplan, and will it even matter? I see Cormier putting the pressure on early, but I can’t imagine Barnett fading. Josh will use his deceptive strength to trip Cormier from a clinch late in the fight, and from there, it’s all Barnett. Cormier is the future at heavyweight, but Barnett is likely just too good.

Winner – Josh Barnett defeats Daniel Cormier via Submission Round 3

Catch all the action tonight at 8:00 PM EST on Showtime Extreme for the preliminary card, and 10:00 PM EST for the main card on Showtime. Enjoy the fights!

]]>http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/05/19/breaking-it-down-strikeforce-grand-prix-final/feed/3Breaking It Down: Bellator 69http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/05/18/breaking-it-down-bellator-69/
http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/05/18/breaking-it-down-bellator-69/#commentsFri, 18 May 2012 17:30:40 +0000http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=59737I love MMA, and I love Bellator, but can I just tell you how happy I am that this season is almost over? I don’t even remember what Fridays were like before this it got underway. With only one more event to follow this one, followed by a three event summer series and then a […]

I love MMA, and I love Bellator, but can I just tell you how happy I am that this season is almost over? I don’t even remember what Fridays were like before this it got underway. With only one more event to follow this one, followed by a three event summer series and then a break until September, this effort is a little bittersweet how close we are to the end of this historic and fun season of fights. Anyway, enough seriousness, someone make some 69 jokes, and let’s breakdown tonight’s Bellator 69card, shall we?

Mark Holata (11-3) vs. Abe Wagner (10-5)

In an heavyweight match up, heavy-handed Wagner looks to get back on track after a dismal 1-2 run over the last year. Perhaps best known for starching Tim Sylvia, he’s a tough guy to be put up against. He faces the tenacious Holata who managed to put together eight straight wins before he was put out by Ron Sparks. I am not really looking forward to this fight, but, it could be alright, I guess. All of Holata’s losses have come via TKO or KO, and given who has beaten him I expect he takes a nap.

Winner – Abe Wagner defeats Mark Holata via TKO Round 1

Richard Hale (18-4-1) vs. Josh Burns (6-5)

This feels to me like Bellator’s shot at building up Hale for another run in the light heavyweight tournament. He’s facing an ex-heavyweight in Burns and I’m expecting nothing short of a massacre.

Winner – Richard Hale defeats Josh Burns via Submission Round 2

Andrey Koreshkov (9-0) vs. Derrick Krantz (11-5)

Both these men are looking for their second straight Bellator win. Krantz is a well-rounded fighter that has shared cage time with notable fighters Rich Clementi and Dustin Poirier. While he tends to lack consistency, he is always dangerous, especially on the ground. I think “Spartan” is on another level though. The 21-year old Russian wisely avoided the M-1 Global route, and with a win tonight he could do big things in Bellator. He’ll get a TKO victory.

Winner – Andrey Koreshkov defeats Derrick Krantz via TKO Round 3

Booker Arthur (2-1) vs. Shanon Slack (3-0)

In a featured fight that is unlikely to be televised, the undefeated former Olympian Slack takes on the muscular Arthur. Arthur is more than capable of imposing his will on Slack, who has the advantage on the feet. Normally I’m not so high on regional MMA fights that appear on the Bellator undercards, but this is a damn good fight. I think at some point Arthur will put Slack on the ground, maybe even with strikes, and then make him tap. After all, Olympic wrestling is NOT MMA grappling.

Winner – Booker Arthur defeats Shanon Slack via Submission Round 2

Kalvin Hackney (11-2) vs. E.J. Brooks (6-0)

With half of his career wins coming under the Bellator banner, “The Pretty Boy” Brooks looks for his seventh straight win against “Hot Boy” Hackney. This is another very close fight on paper. If I had to pick, and I do, I’d say Hackney pulls it off in a bit of a lazy affair. I don’t see him winning a decision, so he’ll have to finish his foe.

Winner – Kalvin Hackney defeats E.J. Brooks via TKO Round 1

Josh Quayhagen (3-0) vs. Cliff Wright (6-2)

Bellator obviously sees something in Quayhagen, as he keeps coming back despite his less than exciting performances. He has tons of potential, and I’m happy they’re not handing him favorable match-ups. In Wright he faces a finisher. With all of his six victories coming by submission, the grappler most recently put Dakota Cochrane out cold in March. Quayhagen will understand adversity tonight, and I think it might be too much for him to overcome in this bout.

Winner – Cliff Wright defeats Josh Quayhagen via Submission Round 3

Ron Sparks (8-1) vs. Kevin Asplund (15-1)

In a heavyweight tournament eliminator, Bellator veteran Sparks looks to land some heavy leather as he faces fellow violence aficionado Asplund. This is one of those bouts that is just ridiculously hard to pick. Someone is going to sleep, likely quickly and likely violently. I’m going to call a knockout in the first round, and I’ll flip a coin for my selection.

MEGA MEGU!!!! The best female fighter in the entire world, who should rightfully be 26-0, returns to the Bellator cage for the first time since her incredibly controversial loss to Zoila Gurgel. The grappling expert can and will tap anybody out, likely with little to no effort. She faces highly touted Aguilar who is currently riding a four fight winning streak. No slouch on the ground herself, more than half of her wins come by submission. I see Megu being too much for Aguilar to handle, but I see the submission games of both ladies being negated by one another so this will go the distance.

Winner – Megumi Fujii defeats Jessica Aguilar via Unanimous Decision

Karl Amoussou (14-4-2) vs. David Rickels (10-0)

“Psycho” Amoussou is out for blood. It would appear as if he just really dislikes Rickels, as he does anyone he faces, and that will once again serve as his motivation for looking to destroy his opponent. With crazy power in his hands and a pretty successful ground game, Amoussou is nearly in possession of all the pieces he needs to become a serious force in the fight game. In “The Caveman”, he faces one of the best welterweight prospects outside of the UFC. He hasn’t faced anyone of note, and thus it’s hard to tell where he stands in terms of skills, but…he has a beard. I am just not sold on Amoussou, he has trouble keeping it together, and composure might be the key to victory in this bout. As such, I’m going with the upset special.

Winner – David Rickels defeats Karl Amoussou via Unanimous Decision

Maiquel Falcao (30-4) vs. Andreas Spang (8-1)

Well, it’s about time these fellas finally got to fight. This time, Jimmy Smith will be safely outside of the cage. I expect nothing short of a war in this bout, and with two strikers as good as this someone is getting finished. I believe Spang is the better technical striker, but, with how much he gets hit and with Falcao being on the other end of those fists, I think it’s a short night for Spang.

Winner – Maiquel Falcao defeats Andreas Spang via Knockout Round 1

For the second last time this season, Bellator airs live on Spike.com at 7:00 PM EST with some preliminary bouts with the main card going live at 8:00 on MTV 2, TheScore.com in Canada, or on Spike.com.

]]>http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/05/18/breaking-it-down-bellator-69/feed/1Breaking It Down: UFC on Fuel 3 (Main Card)http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/05/15/breaking-it-down-ufc-on-fuel-3-main-card/
http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/05/15/breaking-it-down-ufc-on-fuel-3-main-card/#commentsTue, 15 May 2012 18:00:23 +0000http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=59553It’s fight day, fight night, fight week, whatever. Tonight, some of the best mid-tier fighters in the UFC will go toe to toe in Fairfax, Virginia, as the Patriot Center hosts UFC on Fuel 3. Headlined by an intriguing match-up between Dustin Poirier and Chan Sung Jung, tonight’s card is highlighted by a number of […]

It’s fight day, fight night, fight week, whatever. Tonight, some of the best mid-tier fighters in the UFC will go toe to toe in Fairfax, Virginia, as the Patriot Center hosts UFC on Fuel 3. Headlined by an intriguing match-up between Dustin Poirier and Chan Sung Jung, tonight’s card is highlighted by a number of fan favorites and features a few fighters who are fighting to stay relevant in the promotion. The preliminary portion of the event has been subject to a breakdown, so now it’s time to do the same for the main card.

“Filthy” Lawlor is back after he took a nap in the cage at the hands of one Chris Weidman. The always-funny wrestler has had a rough time lately inside the Octagon and needs a win here tonight. MacDonald is nearing the end of his career so he’ll the Canadian submission specialist will be out to close things out with a win tonight followed by an even bigger win at UFC 149 in Calgary.

Unfortunately for “The Athlete”, I think his opponent has other plans. I expect Tom to impose his will and use his wrestling to grind out a decision.

Winner – Tom Lawlor defeats Jason MacDonald via Unanimous Decision

Fabio Maldonado (18-4) vs. Igor Pokrajac (24-8)

This fight could be fireworks. Maldonado hits hard and man does he loves to throw rib roasters. While he’s not necessarily the most consistent fighter, he’s tough and can bring the pain. Pokrajac hits hard as well – just ask Krzysztof Soszynski. The tough-as-nails Croatian fighter hopes to be the next big thing to come out of that country but he has mighty big shoes to fill.

The biggest factor in this fight, for me, is that fact that of his eight losses, Pokrajac has lost by TKO four times. When facing a heavy handed foe such as Maldonado that spells trouble.

Winner – Fabio Maldonado defeats Igor Pokrajac via TKO Round 1

Jeff Hougland (10-4) vs. Yves Jabouin (17-7)

Jabouin looks for his third straight win tonight, hoping to make a splash in the always-changing bantamweight division. He takes on Hougland, who, despite a rough start to his career, has put together one hell of a winning streak. This bout could set one of these men up for a Top 10 opponent and put said individual one step closer to fighting for the coveted UFC belt.

I like both of these fighters, but this fight seems pretty clear cut to me. Hougland is good, but in Jabouin he faces an experienced, solid fighter who is likely to have his way with him even though it could be very close.

I don’t imagine I have to say too much about these men. Cerrone likes to kick some ass. Stephens likes to kick some ass. Both men need to get back on track and this fight is sure to be violent.

It will likely be the best fight of the night, and I imagine a brawl is what we’re going to see, but Cerrone is just too good and Stephens does not fair well against the upper echelon of the division. As such, Cerrone will pick him apart and finish him late in the fight.

TUF winner Sadollah returns to the Octagon for his ninth career fight. You’d think he’d have more, but we all seem to forget how green Sadollah is. While he has some good and bad fights in the UFC, he’s really coming into his own and he’s doing pretty well for himself in one of the toughest divisions in the sport. Lopez was touted as the next big thing though the Wanderlei Silva protege underwhelmed in his most recent appearance. While he’s still young, and the sky may very well be the limit, to quote Georges St-Pierre I have not been impressed by his performance.

For those reasons, I have to pick Sadollah. He has faced plenty of adversity, and I just don’t see what Lopez can throw at Amir that he can’t handle. This one isn’t going to be pretty.

Winner – Amir Sadollah defeats Jorge Lopez via Unanimous Decision

Chan Sung Jung (12-3) vs. Dustin Poirier (12-1)

“The Korean Zombie” enters the octagon after starching Mark Hominick back in Toronto. The skilled Korean Top Team fighter, who often throws caution to wind in favor of a brawl, is a surprise success story in the division and looks to keep up that momentum tonight. He takes on one of the hottest featherweight prospects in 23-year old Poirier. Poirier came onto the scene and immediately started making his opponents look silly. Simply put, the young, ever-improving future title contender has the skills to end any opponent’s evening whether standing or on the ground.

Jung is about to be just another name on Poirier’s record. Personally, I don’t believe the hype surrounding “The Korean Zombie”. Is he tough? Yes, yes he is. Is he a great fighter? Far from it. Beating Leonard Garcia and knocking out a guy who gets dropped by any glancing blow are not enough to make me believe he stands a chance tonight. Poirier will dominate this fight from start to finish.

Winner – Dustin Poirier defeats Chan Sung Jung via Submission Round 2

The main card gets started at 8:00 PM EST on FUEL TV and Rogers Sportsnet in Canada. If you happen to miss any of the action, the 5 OZ family has you covered, as we’ll have live results as the fights happen.

]]>http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/05/15/breaking-it-down-ufc-on-fuel-3-main-card/feed/3Breaking It Down: UFC on Fuel 3 (Prelims)http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/05/15/breaking-it-down-ufc-on-fuel-3-prelims/
http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/05/15/breaking-it-down-ufc-on-fuel-3-prelims/#commentsTue, 15 May 2012 15:30:48 +0000http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=59523I keep thinking it’s Saturday today. Damn you UFC for putting a fight card on Tuesday and turning my run of the mill, humdrum day into an awesome 24-hour period full of violence. How dare you entertain me. Since no one apparently knows this card is happening, I might as well break it down for […]

I keep thinking it’s Saturday today. Damn you UFC for putting a fight card on Tuesday and turning my run of the mill, humdrum day into an awesome 24-hour period full of violence. How dare you entertain me.

Since no one apparently knows this card is happening, I might as well break it down for you, right? Here’s a look at the prelims…

Fresh of a very successful stint in Tachi Palace Fights, “Cisco” Rivera is back under the ZUFFA banner, and hoping to make a big statement tonight. H takes on Soto, who, while being a solid fighter, was thrown to the wolves when he took on Michael McDonald.

I expect this fight looks similar to Cicso’s last two bouts. He’s taking Soto’s head off.

Winner – Francisco Rivera defeats Alex Soto via TKO Round 1

Jeff Curran (33-14-1) vs. Johnny Eduardo (25-9)

Relative of apparent world-beater Pat Curran, “The Big Frog” looks for his first UFC win with his badass submission skills. Across the cage is highly touted Eduardo. Eduardo is a solid, experienced fighter, who looks to make his own impact in the UFC.

The only place where Eduardo may struggle, is on the ground. Unfortunately for him, Jeff thrives there.

Winner – Jeff Curran defeats Johnny Eduardo via Submission Round 3

Rafael dos Anjos (15-6) vs. Kamal Shalorus (7-2-2)

Speaking of awesome grapplers, Dos Anjos is back! With always improving striking, and some slowly, but surely developing wrestling skills, Dos Anjos is quickly developing into a complete fighter. He takes on the heavy-handed Shalorus who has some damn good wrestling skills but rarely uses them. Kamal hasn’t faired well in the UFC, after a fairly good showing in WEC.

While Kamal is good, he’s also getting older, and as seen in his last few bouts, he’s slowing. Jim Miller seemingly broke Shalorus in their fight and I think Dos Anjos’ grappling might keep Shalorus from engaging him in that department, thus, I am going with Dos Anjos in a boring fight.

Two former welterweights clash in a lightweight bout, as Grant returns to the Octagon after a short layoff due to injuries. He takes on the crafty Brazilian Prater who looks to get his first legitimate win in awhile, as his last “victory” came due to a questionable disqualification at the hands of Erick Silva.

I expect this is a good fight, and an even better fight for Grant, who will impose his will, and dominate Prater for 15 minutes.

Winner – T.J. Grant defeats Carlo Prater via Unanimous Decision

Cody McKenzie (12-2) vs. Marcus LeVesseur (21-5)

The master of the McKenzietine returns to the Octagon and looks for his first win in far too long. The proficient grappler who specializes in nasty guillotine chokes has dropped the silly gimmick of being a happy-go-lucky guy from Alaska and has taken to the gym to improve himself as a fighter. His opponent, the always dangerous LeVesseur, is a solid wrestler who even holds a win on the mat over Ben Askren and has some violent striking.

This is bad match-up, stylistically, for McKenzie and he risks getting picked apart and finished if he stands with LeVesseur. I think Marcus has a pretty damn good chance of winning, but I am a fan of McKenzie and I’m going with my heart, not my head.

After a ten-month layoff Tavares is back and ready to scrap. The former TUF finalist has been left behind in a quickly changing division and a win tonight could solidify his standing at 185. Meanwhile, his opponent – “The Ox” – hits hard. REALLY hard.

The bottom line is I just don’t have enough faith in Tavares’ abilities nor do I think he can take Yang down. In fact, I think “The Ox” pounds the hell out of him and makes it a quick night.

Winner – Dongi Yang defeats Brad Tavares via TKO Round 1

The preliminary card goes down today at 5:30 PM ET on the UFC’s Facebook page. Check back a little later for my main card breakdown, and as always, enjoy the fights!

]]>http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/05/15/breaking-it-down-ufc-on-fuel-3-prelims/feed/0Breaking It Down: Bellator 68http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/05/11/breaking-it-down-bellator-68/
http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/05/11/breaking-it-down-bellator-68/#commentsFri, 11 May 2012 19:00:28 +0000http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=59406You’re likely not in Atlantic City right now, but if you are, RUN, not walk, to the Caesars Hotel and Casino to score some tickets for tonight’s Bellator 68. You will not be disappointed… or maybe you will, I don’t know, I don’t even know you. Regardless, it’s time for another Bellator event, and with […]

You’re likely not in Atlantic City right now, but if you are, RUN, not walk, to the Caesars Hotel and Casino to score some tickets for tonight’s Bellator 68. You will not be disappointed… or maybe you will, I don’t know, I don’t even know you. Regardless, it’s time for another Bellator event, and with it comes another breakdown of the fights. I was noticeably absent, well, nearly absent, last week, but I’m back this week with a full preview of the card. Read the words below, and in case of a nuclear meltdown, print it out and take it into the bomb shelter with you.

Let’s get down to business, shall we?

Don Carlo-Clauss (8-6) vs. Jacob Kirwan (9-4)

The New York based bearded wonder, Carlo-Clauss looks for his second straight win in his Bellator debut. Unfortunately for him, he takes on “The Hunter”. Although he lost his last bout, Kirwan showed how tenacious he can be and his grappling-heavy attack will be too much for the New Yorker.

Winner – Jacob Kirwan defeats Don Carlo-Clauss via Submission Round 2

Marcin Held (12-2) vs. Derrick Kennington (6-2)

20-year old Polish fighter Held returns to the Bellator cage for the first time since a controversial November victory over Phillipe Nover. The well-rounded youngster has a lot of hype behind him. His opponent, the grappling-friendly Kennington, hasn’t been really tested yet in his career and this bout should be just that. However, I doubt he’ll be exiting the cage with an “A+” in tow.

Winner – Marcin Held defeats Derrick Kennington via TKO Round 1

Claudio Ledesma (6-2) vs. Anthony Leone (10-5)

Renzo Gracie-trained Ledesma looks for his second Bellator victory and third straight overall. The Ring of Combat veteran is a solid bantamweight and if he keeps up his string of victories, he could very well find himself in the next 135-pound tournament. He takes on former Strikeforce/WEC fighter Leone. While he hasn’t had much luck in his last few bouts, going 2-5 in his last seven, the Team Bombsquad fighter possesses some good ground skills, and of his ten victories half of them have come by submission. I see the bad luck continuing for Leone, as Ledesma will likely roll through him.

Winner – Claudio Ledesma defeats Anthony Leone via Unanimous Decision

Francois Ambang (1-3-1) vs. Gregory Milliard (2-2)

I’m just not going to even bother talking about this fight, simply because, it does not interest me in the slightest. Prelims, postlims, whatever, sometimes, I just don’t want to bother watching a fight and this is one of them. I kind of like Milliard though, as he beat up one-time Strikeforce fighter (and registered sex offender Brandon Saling), so there’s that.

Looking to rebound from two straight losses, Crazy 88 BJJ fighter Nsang makes his Bellator debut tonight. The skilled grappler may lack consistency, but he’s a hell of a fighter as shown in his five Ring of Combat appearances. He takes on “Chavo”, a Semper Fi MMA product, who may be best known for being destroyed by Karl Amoussou back in November. I suspect this bout is fairly exciting, but I don’t see any other likely result than a decision win, likely for Martinez.

Winner – Jesus Martinez defeats Aung La Nsang via Unanimous Decision

Marius Zaromskis (16-6 1 NC) vs. Waachim Spiritwolf (9-9-1 1 NC)

After a false start in their initial bout, former DREAM welterweight champ Zaromskis finally gets to go toe to toe with Spiritwolf. Spiritwolf is a scrapper who leaves it all in the cage whenever he fights. Zaromskis is a technically proficient striker, who has some nasty kicks, the kind of kicks that remove ears from heads.

I expect this to be an awesome opening to the televised card, with the more technically skilled fighter, Zaromiskis, taking home the TKO win.

Winner – Marius Zaromskis defeats Waachim Spiritwolf via TKO Round 3

Carmelo Marrero vs. Seth Petruzelli

In what will likely be my favorite fight of the night, the Kimbo Slice-slayer Petruzelli looks for his second straight Bellator victory after he murdered Ricco Rodriguez in August. Going up against him is the crafty grappler, Marrero. Marrero is a handful for anybody on the ground and is notoriously difficult to finish.

This bout is kind of a toss-up. Petruzelli has disgusting power and can end a fight quickly, but tends to slow down as the fight goes on. Marrero is generally able to throw down throughout the full fifteen minutes and is moving down in weight slightly, for this catch-weight bout, whereas Seth is moving up, so there will be a bit of a size difference. The smart money is on Marrero getting the submission and that’s where mine is as well.

Galvão is a man on a mission after all the BS decision losses he’s suffered. He is very clearly out for blood as we saw when he took out Ed West in the quarterfinals. Marx shocked many when he defeated Masakatsu Ueda in his last bout. He has some serious wrestling chops and can easily grind out a decision.

Marx has a clear cut path to victory, and that is take Galvão down and lay on top of him. Having said that, Galvão is a Nova Uniao black belt who also possesses some serious striking ability. He will be too much for Marx to handle, and he’ll be booking his ticket to the finals.

Sandro is ready for revenge and the last thing standing in his way is Straus. Sandro, long considered one of the best featherweights in the world, enters his second tournament final bout, and hopes this time things go his way. after coming up short last season. Straus, the solid wrestler, has had a hard road to the finals in taking out Jeremy Spoon and Mike Corey, both via decision. Straus also enters his second tournament final, and much like Sandro he believes tonight is his night.

Only one man can take home the Bellator tournament crown and become the #2 contender in the division. That man will be Sandro. His loss to Pat Curran will not haunt him much longer, as he will use his technical striking, violent power, and excellent grappling abilities to stifle to the attacks of Straus en route to a late stoppage or decision victory.

Winner – Marlon Sandro defeats Daniel Straus via Unanimous Decision

You all know the drill by now. As always, Bellator airs live on Spike.com at 7:00 PM EST with some preliminary bouts with the main card going live at 8:00 on MTV 2, TheScore.com in Canada, or on Spike.com. Tune in early so Jimmy Smith and Sean Wheelock can call you hardcore fans.

]]>http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/05/11/breaking-it-down-bellator-68/feed/1Breaking It Down: UFC on FOX 3http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/05/05/breaking-it-down-ufc-on-fox-3/
http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/05/05/breaking-it-down-ufc-on-fox-3/#commentsSat, 05 May 2012 18:15:21 +0000http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=59030Much like yesterday’s look at Bellator 67, a very much-abbreviated version of my breakdown accompanies the UFC on FOX 3 fights thanks to some technical difficulties on my end. I’m just going to throw down my picks and how I think they win. If you have any analysis, opinions, or anything to say, feel free […]

Much like yesterday’s look at Bellator 67, a very much-abbreviated version of my breakdown accompanies the UFC on FOX 3 fights thanks to some technical difficulties on my end. I’m just going to throw down my picks and how I think they win. If you have any analysis, opinions, or anything to say, feel free to let loose in the Comments section.

Johnson hasn’t been stopped since his professional debut but I think that streak will end tonight. It’s going to be a stand-up war and in such affairs I tend to go with the better striker who is undoubtedly “HD”. Truly, this will come down to which man lands the first punch since both are powerful dudes.

Palhares is as one-dimensional as they come but damn is he good at his singular strategy! However, Belcher is a beast and has faced good BJJ guys before. As long as he can avoid Palhares’ leg-attack he should be able to pick him apart with strikes. Hell, even Dan Miller rocked Palhares, so Belcher should have no problem sealing the deal.

This fight is almost too close to call since both are similar in nature. Each has knockout power and a solid wrestling base. In fact I could even see a stalemate of sorts with the crowd raining down boos. Koscheck looked “suspect” (his word) against Mike Pierce in his last fight but I don’t think he’ll take any more risks tonight given Hendricks’ power.

Diaz has struggled against other guys built in the mold of Miller – a top notch grappler with a good chin and respectable boxing. I also think Miller has better cardio than Diaz when it comes to a fight. Diaz might have him in a triathlon but, as you all know, this is MMA. As such, I think Miller will capitalize on the holes in Diaz’s game and come away with a hard-fought decision win.

Winner – Jim Miller defeats Nate Diaz via Unanimous Decision

I’ll be back next week with some actual depth instead of just my picks. The fights go down tonight with the preliminary card airing on Facebook at 4:00 PM EST, Fuel TV at 5:00 PM EST, and the main card on FOX at 8:00 PM EST.